Compare towns
Dalton vs Salisbury vs Windsor Locks
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dalton has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Salisbury has the most expensive homes ($479k median).
Windsor Locks has the youngest population (median age 41.4).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Dalton | Salisbury | Windsor Locks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256Lowest |
9,281 |
12,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 28% above U.S. |
51.3±3.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dalton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$93,361±$6kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
| Salisbury and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26k 11% below U.S. |
$478,700±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,691±$411Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
| Salisbury and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276 37% above U.S. |
$4,604Highest 48% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salisbury and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #192 of 282 in MA | #240 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Triton | Windsor Locks School District |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | None in town | Windsor Locks High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
— | 8.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.